Continuous laundering

ABSTRACT

A continuous washing apparatus made up of one or more units, each unit including a flexible tube or bag through which the goods to be laundered are moved in a continuous operation, the flexible tube being flexed so as to agitate the water therein and the goods in the water, in the passage of the goods through the tube, so as to produce a washing action; when a plurality of such units are used, the goods are removed from one such unit to the next for successive and related steps in the laundering operation such as washing, rinsing etc.; it also includes a gripping means for removing the goods from the exit end of the unit, and when a plurality of units are used in succession, utilizing the gripping means for depositing the goods into the next unit.

United States Patent [1 1 Grantham CONTINUOUS LAUNDERING [76] Inventor:Paulette Grantham, 1830 White Oak Drive. Menlo Park. Calif. 94025 {22]Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 90,167

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.510,596, Nov. 30,

[111 3,744,277 [451 July 10,1973

822,836 11/1951 Germany 68/96 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. PriceAttorney-Paul H. Gallagher 5 7 ABSTRACT A continuous washing apparatusmade up of one or more units, each unit including a flexible tube or bagthrough which the goods to be laundered are moved in a continuousoperation, the flexible tube being flexed so as to agitate the watertherein and the goods in the water, in the passage of the goods throughthe tube, so as to produce a washing action; when a plurality of suchunits are used, the goods are removed fromone such unit to the next forsuccessive and related steps in the laundering operation such aswashing, rinsing etc.; it also includes a gripping means for removingthe goods from the exit end of the unit, and when a plurality of unitsare used in succession, utilizing the gripping means for depositing thegoods into the next unit.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTINUOUS LAUNDERING The present inventionis a continuation-in-part of my prior and co-pending, parentapplication, Ser. No. 5 l0,596, filed Nov. 30, 1965, for ContinuousLaundering.

CROSS REFERENCES My co-pending application, Ser. No. 8l,70l, filed Oct.19, 1970, for Continuous Laundering, also a continuation-in-part of theabove mentioned parent application.

My co-pending application, Ser. No. 81,671, filed Oct. 19, 1970, forLaundry Towel Rolling Means, also a continuation-in-part of the abovementioned parent application.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A broad object of the invention is to provide anovel continuous laundering apparatus, and method of laundering.

Another object is to provide continuous laundering apparatus includingone or more units, for continuous washing of goods, and in the case of aplurality of units, providing for a plurality of laundering phases, suchas washing, rinsing, etc., including when desired, soaking, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for andmethod of continuous laundering which is adaptable to both longand shortpieces, wherein in laundering the long pieces, they progress linearlythrough the apparatus, and may even include securing the piecestogether, although it may not be necessary to secure the piecestogether, as in the case of short or small pieces which may be movedthrough the apparatus in mass or bulk form.

Still another object is to provide novel continuous washing apparatuswhich includes means for agitating the laundry pieces in the launderingliquid, such as in washing and rinsing steps.

An additional object is to provide novel continuous laundering apparatushaving a flexible tubeor bag for containing the laundering liquidswhereby to carry out the agitation of the character referred to, and inthe use of which the agitation also effects agitation of the goods beinglaundered.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the general characterreferred to which includes one or more individual units, and in whicheach unit can be of any desired length and particularly of a substantiallength necessary for carrying out the various laundering steps, but inwhich because of the great length of the units which may be foundnecessary for effecting the laundering steps, it may be found difficultto lead long and continuous laundry pieces therethrough, and wherein theapparatus includes means for continuous feeding of long laundry piecesin linear fashion through the apparatus.

An additional operation is to provide novel apparatus for effectivelyperforming a plurality of laundering steps which may include for examplewashing and rinsing, in the use of which the wash water and rinse watereffectively penetrate the laundry pieces and perform the respectivefunctions in an effective manner, i.e., the washing liquid thoroughlypenetrates the laundry pieces and dissolves the soil therein and therinse water penetrates fully through the laundry pieces for rinsing thewash water therefrom.

An additional object is to provide a novel method of continuous washingutilizing the steps associated with the use of the apparatus in thevarious phases thereof described above.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic indication of washing apparatus according tothe present invention, including a plurality of individual units in aseries;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in large scale, of one whole unit anda portion of a second one, embodying the features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the upper right hand corner of the unit ofFIG. 2, and oriented according to the latter figure.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, attention is directedfirst to FIG. 1 showing diagrammatically the apparatus according to thepresent invention including a plurality of units or componentsconstituting a complete laundering apparatus according to my invention,and adapted for carrying out the method of the invention.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of units 32, 34 all ofwhich may be of the same construction, and each of which includes thefeatures of the present invention. The representation of the pluralityof units of FIG. 1 indicates various stages of laundering including, forexample, washing, and rinsing, and they may provide for additionalphases such as soaking or other conditioning. The goods may be of any ofvarious kinds such as long individual towels 30 of FIGS. 1 and 2, orshort or small pieces 31 as represented in FIG. 5 and referred to againhereinbelow. The goods 30 after leaving the final unit 34 may bedirected to a subsequent processing step, as into an apparatus for thatpurpose indicated at 37 which may categorically represent any of a widevariety of apparatuses and methods.

In the case of long and continuous towels, successive ones may betemporarily secured together so that each acts as a leader to the next,and after the towels proceed throughthe entire sequence of apparatuses,they are then separated. If desired, driving members or wheels 44 may beutilized for pulling towels 30 through the apparatus.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 2-5 showing the specific constructionof one of the units 32, 34, now identified in its entirety at 65. Theunit 65 includesa suitable frame or stand 66. A flexible bag 67 issecured to a top closure member 69 incorporated in the frame 66 andtogether therewith serving as a tank, identified as a whole at 70. Thistop member 69 preferably is arcuate in cross-section (FIG. 3) to providethe desired strength and is supported by the legs of the stand in asuitable manner. The bag '67 may be secured to the member 69 in asuitable manner such as by extending the side flaps 68 over the member69 and securing them together as by a zipper 73. A bead 71 fitted in acooperating groove 72 at each end may be utilized for securing the endportions. An inlet opening 75 and an outlet opening 76 (see also FIG. 5)are provided in the top member 69 and preferably these openings aresurrounded by upstanding cylindrical members 77 and 79 to accommodateelevated levels of the water in the tank 70 in the agitation thereof asdescribed hereinbelow. The beads 71 may surround the cylindrical members77 and 79. The tank 70 includes an inlet conduit 80 and an outletconduit 81 for conveying wash water into and out of the tank in thelaundering operation. If desired, the conduit 81 of the rinse unit 34may be connected with the conduit 80 of the washer unit 32 to providetransfer of the rinse water from the rinsing unit to the washing unit toincrease the efficiency of the overall operation.

In feeding the towel 30 through the unit it may be fed over one or moreguide rollers 82, there being two shown in the present unit, accordingto practical considerations encountered in the individual installations.

The direction of conveying the towel 30 through the unit is assumed tobe from left to right as represented by the arrows 84 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The wash water indicated at a level 85 in the tank is agitated bycylindrical drums 86 which in this case are two in number. The drums areprovided with stub shafts 87 which are welded directly to a pair ofendless chains 89 which ride on angle iron tracks 90 and 91 incorporatedin the stand 66. Preferably the drums are rotatable on the stub shafts,and spaced apart evenly through the closed circuit linear length of theendless chains. The chains are mounted on suitable guide rollers 92 atleast one of which is driven by a suitable power means which drives thechains, in the present instance, in clockwise direction as indicated bythe arrows 94. These chains carry the drums in a corresponding path, andas the drums move along the upper track 90 they engage the flexible bag67 and flex it substantially above its normal lowermost dependingposition, the upper track 90 being so located to accomplish thatfunctiOn. The tracks 90 and 91 an: the flexible bag 67 are sodimensioned that each drum engages the flexible bag throughout thelength of the latter, and as it does so, it flexes the bag to a positionclosely adjacent the top member 69. This produces a high degree ofagitation of the wash water in the bag. The water flows or runs from thehigh point on the front side of the druM as the latter engages the bag,and as the drum moves along, the net effect is for the water to washprogressively over the drum and in reverse direction, i.e., to the leftas viewed in FIG. 2. As each drum completes its course along the bag, itproceeds down the lower track 91, and the other drum is then raised intoengagement with the bag and carried therealong, with nearly continuousagitation. In the case of two drums, the agitation is interrupted onlyby the intervals required for each drum to rise from its lower positionto its upper position. However more than two drums may be used, and inthat case, there is no interruption. This agitation produces anunusually effective washing action, the wash water being literallylifted and forced upwardly which causes the water to pass through thetowel. As the water recedes downwardly, it again passes through thetowel and produces additional washing action. The engagement by the drumwith the bag may lift the level of water to a substantial heightreaching into the cylindrical members 77, 79, the latter also serving toprevent splashing of the water.

The action of the drums in moving along the bag tends to carry the towelin the same direction, as indicated by the dotted-line arrow 84. This isthe direction of travel of the towel through the apparatus, in theassumed example, and because of the relatively great length of the tankrequired for effective washing action, it is difficult to thread or leadthe towel through. This action by the drum tends to so thread or leadthe towel therethrough so that there is no absolute requirement for aleader to be utilized, although it is desirable to use such leader.However, this action of working the towels through the unit may beutilized in the case of small pieces which are not interconnected. Infeeding the first towel into the unit, the leading end thereof, and inthe case of a small piece, the whole piece, would tend to bunch up atthe end of the tank as indicated at 96 in FIG. 5. In the case of longtowel, the leading end may be picked up manually from the outlet opening76 of the tank of a unit 32 and then fed into the inlet opening of thenext unit 34, or rinsing unit. In the case of small pieces, the piecesmay be lifted out manually, but preferably they are withdrawn bysuitable mechanical means such as a grapple fork type of instrument 95,whereupon they are then fed into the next unit, i.e., the rinsing unit.

For use with mall pieces, it may be desired to locate the pulleys 92 toprovide a return run 98 of the chains 89 (FIG. 5) at a position spacedfrom the terminal end of the bag 67 to provide a pocket 100 beyond therange of movement of the drums, into which the small pieces drop. Thispocket or dead area enables the small pieces to accumulate there withoutdisturbance and possible backward movement thereof from the agitation bythe drums.

If it should be desired, additional guide rollers 82 may be provided inthe tank adjacent the ends thereof as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2to guide the long towels into and from the tank, when the towels arebeing drawn through the apparatus by the driving wheels 44.

Preferably reverse flow of both the wash water and rinse wateR isprovided for more efficient operation and in the case assumed andrepresented in FIG. 2, the flow of both of those waters is from niGht toleft, or counter the direction of movement of the towels.

I claim:

1. Laundering apparatus comprising a flexible container for wash waterhaVing an entrance end opening and an exit end opening, and means forflexing the flexible container, and thereby agitating the water and thegoods therein and also thereby moving goods introduced into thecontainer through the entrance end opening continuously to the exit endopening to a position from which they can be removed through the exitend opening.

2. Laundering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flexiblecontainer is a tube open at both ends, and the means for agitating thewater and goods includes means for engaging the tube on the exteriorthereof and flexing the tube and thereby agitating the water and thegoods therein.

3. Laundering apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means engagingthe flexible tube for agitating the water therein so engages it at oneend and moves along the length of the tube, progressively agitating thewater therein throughout the length of the tube.

4. Laundering apparatus for continuous laundering, including a frame, aflexible tube mounted in the upper portion of the frame and having anentrance opening and an exit opening, the frame including verticaltubular means connected with the openings of the flexible tube andextending upwardly therefrom, the flexible tube being adapted forcontaining water, and for the introduction of goods to be launderedthrough the entrance opening and moved through the tube and removedtherefrom through the exit opening, continuous chains mounted in theframe below the flexible tube and movable in an endless path abouttransverse axes and defining an upper run and lower run, a drum mountedon the chains, the relation and positioning of the parts being such thatwhen the drum is on the upper member and is supported thereby.

1. Laundering apparatus comprising a flexible container for wash waterhaVing an entrance end opening and an exit end opening, and means forflexing the flexible container, and thereby agitating the water and thegoods therein and also thereby moving goods introduced into thecontainer through the entrance end opening continuously to the exit endopening to a position from which they can be removed through the exitend opening.
 2. Laundering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theflexible container is a tube open at both ends, and the means foragitating the water and goods includes means for engaging the tube onthe exterior thereof and flexing the tube and thereby agitating thewater and the goods therein.
 3. Laundering apparatus according to claim2 wherein the means engaging the flexible tube for agitating the watertherein so engages it at one end and moves along the length of the tube,progressively agitating the water therein throughout the length of thetube.
 4. Laundering apparatus for continuous laundering, including aframe, a flexible tube mounted in the upper portion of the frame andhaving an entrance opening and an exit opening, the frame includingvertical tubular means connected with the openings of the flexible tubeand extending upwardly therefrom, the flexible tube being adapted forcontaining water, and for the introduction of goods to be launderedthrough the entrance opening and moved through the tube and removedtherefrOm through the exit opening, continuous chains mounted in theframe below the flexible tube and movable in an endless path abouttransverse axes and defining an upper run and lower run, a drum mountedon the chains, the relation and positionIng of the parts being such thatwhen the drum is on the upper run of the chains, it extends upwardlybeyond the bottom edge of the flexible tube, and in the progress of thechains it moves along the flexible tube while in continuous engagementtherewith and agitates the water and goods in the water in the flexibletube, throughout substantially the length of the tube.
 5. Launderingapparatus according to claim 4 in which the frame includes alongitudinal supporting piece, and the flexible tube, substantiallythroughout its length between said openings, surrounds the supportingmember and is supported thereby.